When we make the choice to further our careers by attending college or university, we do so because we want to give ourselves the chance to succeed. The only problem with this is that standing between you and the career of your dreams are your exams. There’s something about exams that give even the calmest and coolest of us that feeling of total despair and dread. This, in turn, makes revising for them even harder because we are incredibly stressed out.​The good news is, that although exams will always be daunting, there are plenty of ways you can ensure that you’re prepared. It’s just a case of being smart about studying. It’s not just about how you study either; it’s also about where you study. Because, believe it or not, both factors are of equal importance when it comes to how successful you are.

There’s no need to stress anymore because when it comes to exams, I’ve got you covered.Keep reading for everything that you need to know to succeed.

Where should you study?

So let’s start with the where because the place that you use to revise has a big impact on how successful you are. Finding the right space to study in, will ensure that while you’re revising you have the right mindset. To take things in, you need to be in the mind frame to learn. Something that is almost impossible if you’re surrounded by distractions.

Choose a place that’s calm, quiet and has what you need to study effectively. This could be in your bedroom, in your home office, at your school’s library, or in a study room. The place that you opt to study should depend on what you find most effective. This is important as the place you opt to revise at, can be the difference between failure and success.

Do you find sitting in a quiet room surrounded only by library shelving, other people studying, and lots of handy resources, a good way to study? Or, would you prefer to sit in your bedroom surrounded by familiar surroundings and revise? If you’re someone who gets easily distracted, it’s best to opt for somewhere calm, quiet, and distraction-free. Somewhere like your campus library could be the perfect place. Be smart about where you study, and you’re twice as likely to be successful.​

What are the best ways to study?

Once you’ve got your place of study sorted, the next step is work out the best ways to study. This can be tricky because studying is so subjective and what works for one person doesn’t always work for another. One of the best tips for studying is to write things down as when you copy information out; it tends to stick in your head.

Create mindmaps and flashcards and use these as your main revision tools. You’ll find writing things down incredibly helpful because it will help them to stick in your head. Plus, you’ll then have two fantastic revision tools. The great thing about mind maps is that you can pin them to your bedroom wall as a constant revision tool. Flash cards are also great as they’re an excellent way of testing yourself - write a question on one side and the answer on the other.

Exams are never going to be fun, but the good news is you can make them less daunting. Take the tips and advice above into account and you are sure to do well.

If there’s one cosmetic feature that most people crave, it’s that pearly white smile. Blemishes can be covered in five minutes and dry skin can be moisturized in one, but fixing discolored teeth usually takes a little longer.

As such, it’s important to make sure you give your pearly whites a fighting chance!

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the usual suspects that cause sugar to build up and can quickly diminish that whiteness. Rather than focusing on those, this article will run down some of the foods that you may not have considered, that can have similar effects.

​Firstly, how do I eradicate discolored teeth?

Besides the obvious ‘brush more,’ there are several things you can try. On the more expensive side of things you have dentist surgery, which can permanently keep those chops of yours white. You can enquire with your dentist about this - results are generally solid and side effects are minimal.

Berries

And that’s all kinds of berries too - blueberries, raspberries, strawberries. They’re extremely good for your insides, being packed full of antioxidants and all. But for your teeth… eh. They’re more likely to cause unsightly stains than anything else, so eat in moderation.

Ice

Not that you’ll be scoffing ice on a regular basis, but still, if you want an extremely cool drink this summer, beware! We all have a tendency to chew and grind down those ice cubes, and this can wear down the teeth and make those smiles less than perfect. Let the ice melt or better yet… don’t chew it!

Sports drinks

They’re deceptively healthy, claiming to enhance your performance and make you faster. However, these drinks are absolutely packed full of sugar, and that’s their secret. They may in fact give you that quick burst of energy, but it’ll be at the expense of your oral health.

Bread

Bread is packed full of starchy carbs, and it’s these carbs that are the culprit here. Besides getting stuck in between your teeth, starches in contact with plaque can create acids that attack your teeth.

Medicines

Does this count as a food? Sort of. You certainly drink calpol like it’s a foodstuff, and that’s the basis we’re going on here. The problem with medicines like these is that they dry out your mouth, and that’s the source of the problem.

Having a mouth that’s too dry can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which leaves white spots on the teeth. These are very hard to remove, so stay hydrated and avoid unnecessary drugs.

Pickles

Pickles are usually… well… pickled, before you consume them. The process of pickling involves dunking the food in question into a vat of vinegar. This vinegar contains a lot of acid, and this acid can move on to damage your chops.Pickles can wear down the enamel and make your teeth just a little less shiny. Avoid where possible!

Looking after your skin is essential. It is your body's largest organ, and failing to care for it can lead to lots of problems. Some skincare involves precautions such as being careful in the sun. However, there are also many products that can help to keep your skin healthier. The difficulty is in deciding which ones are right for you. Everyone's skin is different, so choose products that work for your skin can be hard. If you've never had a proper skincare routine before, you might be unsure about where to start.

You can find a skincare routine that works for using theadvice below.

​​Be Aware of Your Sensitivities

The first thing you need to do is be aware of what your skin reacts to. You might be about to try lots of new products, but you will have used some skincare products before. If you know you're sensitive to some things, you can do your best to avoid them. It helps if you are able to identify a common ingredient in the products that might make your skin bad. Even if you're not aware of anything, keep an eye on potential reactions to anything new you try. Don't start using several new products at once, or it will be hard to tell which one your skin disagrees with if there's a problem.

Consider How Much Time You Want to Spend on Skincare

Some people are happy to spend an hour in the morning getting their appearance just right, and another hour undoing it in the evening. But other women just aren't like that, and would rather use the time for something else. You should consider how much time and effort you want to put into your skincare. If you want to keep your routine short, you might prefer products that can do several jobs at once. You might like to use an in-shower moisturizer, for example, so you don't have to put on lotion when you get out of the shower.

Think of Your Needs

​You should be familiar with your skin and its usual condition. Is it naturally dry or oily, or are you prone to blackheads or acne? It's important to keep these things in mind to help you find the right products. Start with what sort of skin you have and check labels on products. For example, a face wash will say if it's for normal, dry or oily skin.

Explore Your Options

There are so many skincare products out there that it's hard to know where to look. But you can still find that a lot of the products you try aren't right for you. If you want to find things that work, you should be open-minded about what you try. For example, emu oil might sound strange, as it's actually from emus. However, there are several possible benefits to using it on your skin. If you keep reading about what's out there, you can find more to try.

Everyone's skincare routine is different, so don't feel like you have to copy anyone else. Find what works for you to make your skin better than ever.

​Everyone wants to try and fight the signs of aging. In the end, time always wins. But just because you won’t look as good as you did in your twenties doesn’t mean you still can’t look good. There are men and women around the world that look the part and they are in their mid-fifties! It might not seem like it is possible without the help of surgery, but there are alternatives.

If you want to learn more you should take a look at the following.You won’t be disappointed!

Moisturize

​As you get older, your beauty regime will become more comprehensive. That is because your body won’t naturally replenish the cells like it did in the past. Instead, you will have to give your body the necessary ingredients. That is why moisturizing is so important as it is a great way to take care of your skin. Skin that glows and is tight is a sure sign that you will age with grace. But, it needs water and moisture to stay tight. Moisturizing twice a day will ensure that your skin has everything it needs to stay young. Or, at the least, that is how it will appear!

Deal With Stress

Ultherapy

Stress is a killer when it comes to aging. Any person that doesn’t deal with stress isn’t going to look young. The reason is that stress manipulates the body into making changes before you are ready. For example, you will start to see bags under your eyes or wrinkles on your face. Sometimes it is just down to age. More often than not it is because you don’t know how to unwind, so it is important that you get the balance right. Every now and again, you will just need time to relax. A massage, for instance, is a great idea. On other occasions you will need to release the energy. In this case, exercise is the best form of stress release, as well as a session between the sheets!

Ultherapy is a cosmetic procedure, yet it doesn't require surgery. As it turns out, it is possible to tighten the skin without having a facelift. Well, that is what the doctors seem to believe. It isn’t as popular as most surgical procedures at the moment. But, it is gaining in popularity each day. The fact that you can be in and out in a matter of hours is very appealing. Plus, the results are more instantaneous than any of the above. In theory, it is like having a facelift without going under the knife.

Stop Smoking

Both smoking and drinking are bad for you, but cigarettes have up to 40,000 toxins in one drag. That is a large number of harmful toxins that go straight into your body after one cigarette. Depending on how many you smoke, the number could be in the millions. What’s worse, the toxins directly affect your DNA and the makeup of your body. After a while they will start wearing away at your body tissue so that you look older. Giving up isn't easy, which is why you should start by cutting down.

Your hygiene is very important to you because you don’t want to be that person that stinks! That is why most people wear deodorant and wear nice perfumes. Plus, you want to look your best, so you will moisturize and take care of your skin. You might even attempt to de-stress every now and again to relax and keep calm. The point is that you will do a lot for your health because you know that your health is important. However, when it comes to oral hygiene, you probably lower your standards. It isn’t uncommon for a person to only do the basics where their teeth and mouth is involved. The reasons for it are varied, but the fact is that it is affecting your oral hygiene. Yes, you might look and smell good, but your teeth will suffer. And, almost everyone can spot bad teeth from a mile away.

If you don’t want to be that person, you need to take a look at these tips, pronto.

Brush Twice A Day

Brushing twice a day isn’t an option – it is compulsory. Anyone that wants to maintain their oral hygiene needs to brush at least twice a day to keep on top of the bacteria. The average person will consume a lot of food and drink in a day. When you leave it alone, the food and drink mix with the bacteria in your mouth to form plaque. And, the plaque is what causes tooth decay and oral hygiene issues. Brushing in the morning and at night will reduce the level of plaque in your mouth. A good brushing will prevent the buildup of bacteria, which will keep your teeth glistening. It will also leave your mouth smelling minty fresh. If you want to go one step further, you can brush several times a day. It isn’t necessary, but it will prevent any serious hygiene issues.

And Brush Properly

Yes, there is a right and a wrong way to brush your teeth. If you are a non-believer, take a look at colgate.com. Brushing for a couple of seconds and then rinsing isn’t the right way. Sure, you will feel better for it, but it won’t make a difference to your teeth. You need to brush for at least a minute or two if you want to have any effect. Plaque is stubborn, and it is hard to budge. So, the longer you brush, the more bacteria you will shift. Also, you should remember which part of mouth you have cleaned and which you haven’t. It sounds ridiculous, yet lots of people brush without a pattern. By the time they rinse, there are some areas they haven’t touched with their brush. Always brush for a decent amount of time and have a plan in the back of your head. Also, don’t forget your gums. Your gums are just as important as your teeth.

Flossing And Mouthwash

Limit Soda And Coffe

People with great oral hygiene and a killer smile don’t just rely on a toothbrush. They have a variety of accessories that helps them keep their hygiene in check. The reason for this is that brushing has flaws. Most toothbrushes, no matter how effective, will miss plaque and bacteria in hard to reach places. Obviously, you need to clean these areas even if they are hard to reach, which is why mouthwash and floss are important. First of all, mouthwash will blast away any bacteria that still cover your teeth after brushing. Well, it will if you use a powerful brand. There are plenty of brands that are just cosmetic and only make your breath smell nice. You need something like Listerine to attack the bacteria in your mouth. Then, you should floss in between your teeth. Even mouthwash can’t move food that sticks in the gaps of your teeth. Only a thin piece of material will get into the tiny nooks and crannies.

To start with, soda is terrible for your mouth. It is true that it contains phosphorous, and phosphorous is a vital ingredient for a healthy mouth. But, it contains far too much, and it has a negative effect on your mouth. High levels of phosphorous can reduce the amount of calcium in your body, and that leads to tooth decay and gum disease. Also, soda contains a high amount of sugar. As far as your teeth go, sugar is the devil! Sugar mixes with the bacteria in your mouth to form plaque, which also leads to decay and gum disease. The average person should have no more than 37.5g of added sugars per day – a can of Coke contains 33g. As you can see, soda has almost all of your daily allowance in one can. So, when you drink more than one a day, you are putting your teeth at risk. Coffee also has this effect because they contain a lot of sugar. Both coffee and soda also contribute to the discoloring of your teeth. You can’t look the part if your teeth are a nasty brown color.

Drink Plenty Of Healthy Vitamins

If you can’t drink Coke and coffee, what can you drink? It is a good question because there are drinks that contain lots of healthy vitamins. The most obvious is a glass of milk. Milk contains calcium, and calcium makes bone stronger and healthier. Teeth, of course, are made of bone, so they benefit from milk. To be honest, you can drink or eat pretty much any dairy product for a shot of calcium. So, don’t dismiss yogurt or cheese as an unhealthy option. Other than getting your vitamins naturally, you can pop a pill. Pills and supplements are a great way to boost your natural deficiencies if you don’t get enough from your diet. A handful of supplements will boost everything from Vitamin A, B, C and D to iron and zinc. All of these are important for a healthy body and a healthy mouth.

Have ever seen a picture of what tobacco can do to your mouth? If you haven’t, you want to take it as gospel that it isn’t nice. For starters, the discoloring of teeth by ingesting too much tobacco is gross. You will have seen people with yellow teeth before, and that is due to smoking. The tobacco stains the teeth, and the stain is almost impossible to clear. So, unless you want yellow teeth, you need to cut back. But, smoking has worse effects. A cigarette is full of chemicals, and they get into the fabric of your mouth. Once they are

Avoid Tobacco

​inside, the chemicals will start to affect the gums and destroy any tissue they come across. As the gums are the foundation of your oral hygiene, they are destroying your teeth. If they don’t fall out, they will look terrible. The worst case scenario always seems like it will never happen, but it could if you continue to smoke heavily. ​

Go To The Dentist

The best tip for maintaining your hygiene is to visit the dentist. Your dentist has years of medical training and experience at their disposal. As a result, they can give you advice or medical treatment to help maintain healthy teeth and gums. It doesn’t matter whether you need a scale and polish or a root canal because they have the answers. The key is to visit them more often. Everyone goes every now and again, but you need regular visits. With a regular appointment, you can limit any damage before it escalates. When you go once in a blue moon, you don’t have as many options. The problem is that you might not have the time. Most people don’t as they have busy lives. Either make more time or take a look at CarefreeDental.com. Sites like Carefree Dental have a lot of information that you can use if you are unsure. All you have to do is read a blog post and digest the information. If you feel you can relate, call your dentist straight away.

Notice The Problems

​Look At The Bigger Picture

Your body is a wonderful thing, and it will alert you to any dental problems. For the most part, you will suffer from toothache or jaw pain. When you do, you need to book an appointment with your dentist. It isn’t a coincidence that you are having trouble with your mouth. It is a sign that you are in trouble and need help. Of course, you can see if it subsides. But, just because it goes away doesn’t mean the problem doesn’t exist. It just means that you don't feel the pain as strongly. While you leave it alone, it will work away under the surface and cause more damage. A dentist can only do so much – you have to do the rest.

The human body is an intricate network or nerve endings and muscle tissue. And, because everything connects, one issue can lead to a domino effect. With that in mind, you need to take your overall health seriously too. If your general well-being isn’t good, your oral hygiene will follow suit. So, as long as you take care of your body, you will take care of your teeth and gums.

​With these tips, you won’t have to worry about your oral hygiene again.

What makes a successful career girl stand out from the crowd today? Gone are the days when an excellent telephone voice were all that matter- thank goodness for that! Today it is all about skills and tools you can offer to people. Whether that is potential employers, clients or colleagues, having certain skills will not just stand you in good stead today. It will help you for the rest of your life. So, what are these skills?

Here are three that you need to learn today, to benefit from in all of your tomorrows.

1. Speaking a second language

No employer or client will ever not be impressed if you can mention that you are bilingual. The only thing better? Being multilingual! Having a second, third or even fourth language is such a fantastic skill to have in the workplace. When applying for jobs, it could be the thing that sets you apart from the competition and secures you the role. Once inside work, it could be the thing that gets you pegged for a promotion. Speaking another language will also make a huge difference if you have ambitions to work for your company at a foreign office! If English isn’t your first language, it may be wise to master this to perfection as your second language. After all, it is widely spoken across the globe and understood by many. Courses like the ones offered by the Effortless English Club focus on speaking the language like a native, which is always going to handy.

2. Top organizational skills

Being poorly organized and a career girl is simply a nightmare waiting to happen. If you don’t have top organizational skills already, you really need to improve upon this. Not doing so could mean all sorts. You might accidentally be late for meetings with important clients. This will set a bad first impression and could lose you a great opportunity. Figure out where you are lacking and then research ways to improve your levels of organization.

3. Being confident at public speaking

Don’t think that because your job doesn’t involve public speaking that this skill isn’t necessary. The things you learn will be transferable to all sorts of different areas of your life. You will be more confident on the phone, in leading meetings- in complaining about a hair in your food at a restaurant! Plus, you can never know exactly where your career will take you. Public speaking could be a part of your future career. Preparing for that eventuality now stands you in good stead. There are a number of places and ways in which you can learn confident public speaking, or build up the skills you already have. Have to do it in your current job? Then pitch to your employer the idea that they send you on the course! Explain the benefits, and offer to do a mini training session for other staff upon your return. That way you don’t have to spend your own money on the course, and you are showing initiative to your employers.

Being a teenager is never easy. You start taking the world more seriously, face new body issues and problems with self-image, worry about fitting in, encounter first loves, feel greater school pressure and much more. It really seems too much for a teenager to handle. Still, this is a normal part of growing up if not the best part of gradually entering the adulthood and ways to relieve stress are many.​

Spark up your creativity

The form of creativity is not important as long as you feel good and free while immersing yourself in it. Painting, drawing, writing poems and even making jewelry are all excellent stress relieving techniques that will help any teenager relax and calm the mind from daily worries while allowing the imagination and one’s personality to shine through. Being able to contemplate one’s feelings and pour them into some kind of art is a proven way to completely eradicate stress and feelings of suffocation from the body and spirit.

Show off your individuality

Get physically active

Teenage years are the perfect time to get to know yourself and tell the world who you are at the same time. The biggest cause for stress in teens just might be the fact that they do not feel true to their own personality and find it hard to cope with the whole fitting in thing when they do not feel like it. Embracing your own style and preferences and being proud of who you are is definitely something that takes practice. However, once you feel comfortable in your own skin you will get rid of the huge burden that weighs you down.

Regardless of age, physical activity and exercising are known to reduce the secretion of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Teens can especially benefit from this. Working out will not only make one more energetic and ready to spend a lot of time studying but also physically fit and better-looking; something that is really important for teens who constantly battle with self-image and body issues. Going on a rigorous diet is definitely not a good idea for someone who is growing, and physical activity can take care of both weight loss and overall physical and mental health.

Have fun doing something interesting

Let’s face it, skateboards and bikes are the thing of the past. Teens love moving around on their own special “wheels” and today, they are lucky enough to go around the town hovering. Stepping on the futuristic hoverboard segway is a lot of fun and this “means of transportation” is becoming more and more popular with teens around the globe. Moreover, hovering around requires some level of fitness skills which really comes in handy with getting enough physical activity even if you are just going over to a friend’s place.

Hang out with your friends

Surround yourself with people who are on the same wavelength as you. Do not be afraid to nurture friendships and be open towards others. Being able to talk to others about your wishes and problems is really beneficial for stress relief and having good company in general for different activities will fill you up with energy and happiness. Even studying can be fun if done together with a good and trusted friend.​

Remember teens – this too shall pass. This does not only refer to stress and your current problems but to your beautiful youth as well. Therefore, there is no place for negativity and worrying.

​Seize every moment of every day, make it fun for you and move forward with confidence and belief in your own choices.

by Emma Lawson Emma Lawson is a passionate writer, online article editor and a health enthusiast. In her spare time, she likes to do research, and write articles to create awareness regarding healthy lifestyle. She also strives to suggest innovative home remedies that can help you to lead a quality and long life.

​Firstly, let’s get one thing out of the way… congratulations! I’m guessing that you were expecting that one. Well, just make sure you’re prepared for a whole lot more - you’ve got nine months of that to come!

Besides warding off the dozens of family members who will want to attend to you, you have other things to attend to during that nine months too. Everything from the way you announce your pregnancy, to organizing finances and keeping active, are vital.

So, if this is your first time or heck, even your third time and you just need a little more help, look no further.

Bookmark this post so you can keep checking back and crossing things off the list!

Check that your pregnancy test is accurateIt’s very rare that a pregnancy test is wrong, but obviously, you must make sure you are actually pregnant before making plans. To do this, wait a few days then take another one. If it shows positive again, it’s almost certainly correct.

Tell your family - in the right wayAnd the right way isn’t just blurting it right out. This is a big deal, no matter how many kids you already have. It’ll affect your parents (babysitting anyone?) and could be a big confidence booster for your siblings who will become aunts/uncles.

So, take the time to sit them down - and make sure you make it a happy occasion. Tell everyone you have some fantastic news, and go in smiling. Perhaps you could buy everyone some baby themed shirts - there are plenty of places to get these, like having a browse online at Zoey's Attic.

It’s quite amusing to tell your family you’re expecting a baby when your brother is decked out in an ‘I’m going to be a brother’ top. Above all, emphasize your good health and financial stability, to incite confidence in your parents.

Staying active and exercisingThe fitter you are, the more easily you’ll be able to cope with the birth. It’s perfectly normal to keep up your usual physical activity (yoga, running) for as long as you feel comfortable.

​Exercise won’t affect the baby in any negative way. In fact, there is some correlation between how healthy you are and how healthy the child is - so stay fit! Don’t sacrifice your health routines until you feel you cannot continue.

Check your financial benefitsAll employed women can receive 52 weeks/one year of statutory maternity leave, even if you’ve been employed just a month. If you choose to return to work early, you can request that your leave ends and you resume a full salary payment.

Your pension and insurance contributions are protected while you’re on leave, so don’t worry about those. Just try and relax! Your partner is also entitled to 26 weeks paid paternity leave, so you will still have two sources of income.

Start baby shopping!You’re going to need a lot of goodies, so start stocking up! Obviously, all the gender-specific items can wait until you know what it is. Alternatively, you can buy unisex stretch suits, vests and socks, etc.

You’ll need a crib or Moses basket, with suitable bedding and a mattress. Don’t use pillows or duvets as they’re not safe for young babies. Double check that the cot doesn’t have gaps big enough to allow your baby’s head to get stuck, too.

And that’s the lot! Good luck with your pregnancy, and I hope this list proves useful!